Snow Forts and Caves

 Well all the fun started out with snow forts and then we moved into snow caves, now lately we are just enjoying the indoors... but here are some picutes of our fun we had for a few days with the snow before the rain came and then the wind came, then bitter cold temps, then....

Sledding

So for awhile there we were having fun with the snow. Over Christmas we did some sledding when the extended Malecek family was around. Above is Jim and Rochelle on a ride down our good sledding hill.

Gracie and Uncle Mick.

Gracie eating the snow.

Zachy all bundled up.

Below is Marty and his sledding skills...

Jingle Bells

So here is Gracie singing Jingle Bells at Christmas time.

Christmas 2010

So I feel I have been slacking lately with my posting.  I am not sure who all really reads or looks at my blog. And really it doesn't matter too much as a big purpose for this blog is for me to somehow keep track of what happens in my life. I have hopes someday to print this entire blog out into some kind of book or journal so someday my kids or grandkids and page through it and remember all the times we have shared.

  So when I don't get a few postings up for awhile, I may get a little upset with myself.  I get over it though, as I know life is busy and lately I just have not been it the mood to deal with drama of digital pictures: uploading, downloading, editing, sorting, saving, posting, ect...  But I did want to get some Christmas 2010 pictures up so they are now coming several weeks late, and when I finally do print my blog... these Christmas pics will be the great beginning my 2011 blog year instead of the sweet end to the 2010 blog year... I figure ahh, that's ok, as long as they get here right? 

So here is Christmas 2010 with the Marty/Terri Malecek close and extended families. 

 We start off with the Christmas goodie making. Gracie and Zach are (as always) big helpers.

 Then we have our family Christmas which started the day with Gracie's very 1st Sunday School Christmas program at Church.  I was so proud of her, even though she didn't really sing any of the songs.  I was just proud to see her up there in front of church and being such a big girl already.  I tell you sometimes these emotions just hit you at the wierdest times.

 So this photo is Gracie and Zach after the Christmas program. 

They are dressed to the supreme and are adorable.

 Then we attempt to set the timer on the Camera to get a family photo... which was quite an ordeal, and then just when we get it all figured out and the kids are all in the right spot at the right time when the camera was going to click, wouldn't you know our dear dog, Willie, has to walk by!!!!!!

 So I guess we did end up with one sort-of decent picture of us all.

My handsome Zachariah.

 (I feel he needs his full name when he looks this sharp!)

All the grandparents came for our Christmas gathering, so above is Grandma and Grandpa Sohre with the kids and below is Grandma and Grandpa Malecek with the kids.

 Time to start opening presents....

 ELMO slippers for them both!

 Barbie dolls and Legos.

 Zach gets some underware and wanted to model them.. only he didn't want to then take them off.

Now we move to Christma Eve at my Mom and Dad's.

 Gracie all dolled up ready for Church.

 Above: Zach and Cousin Margoe. Below: Jesse, Zach, Kate, and Joe.

 Below- all the Sohre grandkids.

 My Grandpa Sohre.  Isn't he a handsome man at 95 years old?

 Zach giving Grandma a hug for one of his presents.

Now onto Christmas Day at the MALECEK house.

Above:  The grandkids for the Malecek side.

 Zachy getting ready to sing his song to get a present.

 Marty so proud of his new jacket that he got.

LOTS OF GOOD HOLIDAY FUN!!

The days always go so fast. Can't wait for next year.

2010

Well, I thought I would copy a friend of mine's blog and do a review of 2010, so here it is:

 The Malecek's 2010
January:  Marty and I decide to start training for our first Marathon in May. We had a great time with family over the holidays. 
February:  We have snow, so we are doing some playing outside.
March: Our runs are getting longer and longer... we are approaching the 20 mile training run. I don't know if we did much else this month.
April:  Gracie turns 3! My she is growing up fast.We are still running.
May: Marty and I run the Pittsburgh Marathon with Marty's sister, Lisa and husband, Mick!! We both finish around 4 1/2 hrs and it rained pretty much the whole time. We got to spend a few days as a couple with no kids... to bad it takes running a marathon for us to get some alone time.
June:  We spend a few weekends at my Mom and Dad's new lake cabin. The kids go swimming. Lots of fun. We go to Willmar Fest events and Marty runs the Foot Lake 4. The kids get to enjoy their first parade.
July:  We go for a week vacation with most of my family at Lake Vermillion.  We again have lots of good times.
August:  I spend 10 days at Camp Ripley for National Guard. Gracie starts Preschool and loves it! I miss her first day because I am at Guards.
September:  Gracie starts Sunday School and she loves this too. Zach and I get to spend Monday mornings together while Gracie is at Preschool.
October:  We get a visit from my brother Darrin from Washington DC. Marty and I run the Twin City 10 mile at the beginning of the month and then at the end of the month Marty runs the Mankato 1/2 Marathon and I run the Mankato 10K. I accept the Manager position of my Diabetes Center I work at. Gracie starts Ice Skating lessons.
November:  We celebrate Thanksgiving with the Malecek's. We get our Christmas Tree up and decorated. I am in an accident with our Honda Pilot due to poor road conditions and it needs major repairs.
December:  We get more visits from out-of-state siblings, Lisa, Mick, and Darrin.  We get lots and lots of snow and have a blast building snow forts, making snow angels, and going sledding.  We spend Christmas with our families.